Liga MX Preview: Ortega starts Chivas reign, Morelia look to build

Juan Carlos Ortega will begin his reign as Chivas Guadalajara coach with a trip to Queretaro in round seven of the Liga MX season.

The 45-year-old was appointed on Monday to replace Benjamin Galindo, who was sacked following the 4-2 defeat against Puebla.

That result saw Chivas slip to 15th in the Mexican Apertura championship, as an own goal from Kristian Alvarez and then a Matias Alustiza strike helped Puebla to their first win of the campaign.

Ortega - who worked as a coach at the club between 2003 and 2009 - will be hoping to reverse Chivas' slide when he takes charge for the first time against a Queretaro side who have won just once in their opening six games.

Elsewhere, Morelia will look to defend top spot when they take on America.

Carlos Bustos' side climbed to the summit with a 2-0 win over Atlas last time out, extending their unbeaten run to four games.

America, meanwhile, head into the match in decent form themselves after three straight wins, the most recent 1-0 against Pachuca.

Unbeaten Santos Laguna will once again look to in-form striker Oribe Peralta when they face a tough trip to Tijuana.

The Mexico international followed up two goals for his country against the Ivory Coast with a brace in last weekend's 3-0 victory against Tigres UANL as Santos Laguna climbed to third.

In other round-seven games, Toluca face second-placed Veracruz at the Estadio Nemesio Diez while Monterrey take on a Leon side coming off the back of four straight draws.

Strugglers Atlas and Pumas UNAM will both go in search of their first win of the season when they go head-to-head and rock-bottom Atlante must also snap a three-game losing streak if they are to overcome Pachuca.

Fifth-place Cruz Azul will bid for first away success of the season when they make the trip to Puebla, while Tigres UANL face a Chiapas side who have not beaten their hosts in league action in over four years.